Attic door rope apparatus

• US 9,364,064 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2014
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dayco Holdings, Lp
• Original Assignee: Dayco Holdings, Lp
• Inventors: Day, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): KIM, SANG K
• Application Number:
  US14/152,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20150197973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 191/12.2 A
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/28 Combinations of handles with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2404/10 Rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/20 using electric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2553/40 using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/35 Ropes, lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4486 Electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/48 Automatic re-storing devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 1/0015 Knobs or handles which do not operate the bolt or lock, e.g. non-movable; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/04 with cords, chains or cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/54 for doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/21 Brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/434 Electromotors; Details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/484 Torsion springs
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/132 Doors

Abstract

An attic door rope apparatus for retractably storing an attic door rope may comprise a spool rotatably coupled with a rotation mechanism, and a stored-energy mechanism having a first end coupled with the spool and a second end coupled with the rotation mechanism, wherein the stored-energy mechanism is configured to impart a torque on the spool about a rotation axis of the spool. Another attic door rope apparatus for retractably storing an attic door rope may comprise a winding mechanism configured to rotate in an unwinding direction and a winding direction, a motor coupled with the winding mechanism configured to turn the winding mechanism in at least the unwinding direction, a sensor configured to detect a user command and send a command signal to the motor, and a power source in electrical communication with the motor and the sensor.

Claims

1. An attic door rope apparatus for retractably storing an attic door pull rope, the apparatus comprising:

a winding mechanism configured to rotate in an unwinding direction and a winding direction to dispense the attic door pull rope;

one or more rope guides configured to facilitate the travel of the attic door pull rope from the winding mechanism;

a motor coupled with the winding mechanism configured to turn the winding mechanism in at least the unwinding direction;

a sensor configured to detect a user command and send a command signal to the motor to turn the winding mechanism to dispense the attic door pull rope; and

a power source in electrical communication with the motor and the sensor.

2. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a stored-energy mechanism configured to apply a torque to the winding mechanism in the winding direction.

3. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 2, the stored-energy mechanism comprising a torsion spring.

4. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to turn the winding mechanism in the winding direction.

5. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor is configured to command the motor to turn the winding mechanism in the unwinding direction in response to a first user command, and in the winding direction in response to a second user command.

6. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

7. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

8. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the user command comprises a hand waving motion in detectable range of the optical sensor.

9. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a touch sensitive mechanism.

10. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to command the motor to turn the winding mechanism for a duration proportional to the duration of the user command.

11. The attic door rope apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to issue the command signal to the motor only after detecting the user command for a predetermined duration.